WOMEN'S groups and police across East Lancashire have welcomed moves to put taxi drivers on the domestic violence front line.

Awareness training is to be included in compulsory courses for cab drivers nationwide and Blackburn with Darwen council bosses say they will review all the driver training immediately.

New drivers will receive awareness information as part of compulsory training sessions. They are advised to make sure a woman is all right, take her to a police station or hospital, if she wants to go, and have the number of a helpline available.

The scheme was introduced by government ministers to make use of the confessional nature of the relationship between cabbies and their passengers.

Taxi drivers in Blackburn with Darwen already receive training in safety techniques, mechanics, customer care and legislation, and can participate in literacy and numeracy schemes.

Denise Johnson, Blackburn with Darwen Council's direrctor of environmental health, said: "We are keen for taxi drivers to be used for any issue like this to get information across to the public.

"If drivers believe they are carrying vulnerable people, then any assistance we can give them to help them deal with that is good and I am happy to look at our training courses."

Vivien Blackledge, a member of the management committee at Blackburn with Darwen Women's Aid, said: "If this can raise awareness of the issue then it's a good thing. It's very important because at least it gives people options."

A spokesman for East Lancashire Police said: "One of our main focuses is on improving our service to domestic violence victims.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy on domestic violence so any assistance from other agencies to bring that to the fore is always welcomed by us."

Blackburn with Darwen Private Hire Association chairman Mohammed Nawaz-Khan said he had yet to examine the plans, but felt most drivers would help people in any difficult situation.

He added: "I certainly don't think this would be any problem at all. Most drivers would help people anyway and see it as part of our job."